First Day in Paradise

Day 2 - Culture and First Impressions
 
A little intro - I will be discussing our first real day in Jamaica and the first impressions about the culture and people. What that actually means is I'll be talking about how going to a Jamaican Pentecostal church, Black River crocodile safari, and incredible Treasure Beach beach impacted me. 
 
So here I am, haven't been to church in 10 years and a very LGBT person, I'm expecting to have to grin and bear it through a Jamaican Pentecostal church Sunday mass. This is the absolute opposite of what actually happens. I've personally always been extremely confused by religion and do not follow any faith, but regardless always respect whatever faith anyone chooses to practice. I not only respected those who attended today's mass, I was moved by their passion. Many times during the mass I found myself close to tears for reasons I couldn't explain. Back home I am part of a big LGBT+ community that considers themselves family, and I saw that same sense of family here. The wholeness and unity of this church radiated off people. And it was all done through music. The church I'm used to focused mainly on sermons, and had some hymns. The Jamaican Pentecostal church did the opposite. The hymns and songs were the main part of the mass. Church-goers brought their own instruments and everyone who could stood throughout the entirety of each song. I've never seen such passion and just plain fun in religion. Personally, I've never really seen religion in a positive light, but today really changed my mind. It made me see that religion is just centered around love and unity and that there is no bad religion, just bad people that misrepresent religion. 
 
Next the group took a short trip over to a Black River crocodile safari. Here we saw gorgeous vegetation, incredible mountains, and (most importantly) some crocodiles! We learned about the history of the mountains, the Black River, and that you can actually touch a crocodile without it eating you. Our tour guide was very nice, but I couldn't help get the feeling this was a big tourist attraction and not something authentic Jamaican culture is about or rooted in. 
 
Now my last and by far favorite part of the day - the beach. Now I've spent my entire life next to a beach, so I am a beach kid at heart. Just to be able to relax in the waves and bond with the rest of the team was incredible and made me much more comfortable in this environment. I can't put a lot of what meant so much to me on the beach into words, it was a combination of cool water on my skin, the team bonding of the group, the beautifully (and scorching) sun setting. There were also three dogs just having a great time with each other on the shore while we were in the water so that was really fun to watch.
 
Lastly, something unrelated to culture and first impressions from the first day, is the lesson I learned about service. I've always expressed that I have a strong desire and love to serve others, but I've never been able to express why. When I've described the drive, people always focus on how I'm such a good person for doing this service - and I've never really understood where they're coming from. I see it as this drive should just be something people naturally experience, because it should be natural for people to want to give back when they have so much to be grateful for. I know that's not how it works, and I've just accepted and respected that in the past. But now, I finally have the words to describe why I feel so strongly about service. All people are equal, and service is just a way to give back and recognize where you are in life. I'm extremely privileged and grateful to have had the opportunities and experiences I've had, and to be able to give back what little I can in my power is my way to say thank you to the universe. No one is less than me because they've had different opportunities or experiences, but if there is a need some where I am happy to fill it if I'm able. And there is a need here that I can fill, and nothing makes me happier than to do my best to do so. 
 
All the best from an amazing part of the world, 
 
Courtney 

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